Diocese of Down & Dromore

St Patrick's Day Celebrations 2026

Photos of our diocesan St Patrick's Day celebrations on Tuesday 17 March 2026. We began with Holy Communion in Saul Church, and many pilgrims joined us for the Prayer Pilgrimage to Down Cathedral and the Festival Service. Our theme was 'Courage in the Line of Fire' and both of our speakers - Dr Päivi Räsänen and Mr Ian Bingham - reflected on the costly imperative of speaking up for the gospel.

  • Saul Church
    Saul Church
  • Bishop David and Ian Bingham, the preacher at Saul Church
    Bishop David and Ian Bingham, the preacher at Saul Church
  • Holy Communion at the historic Saul Church
    Holy Communion at the historic Saul Church
  • Ian Bingham gives the address
    Ian Bingham gives the address
  • Communion is distributed outside
    Communion is distributed outside
  • Mayor & Council Chair, Philip Campbell, Dean Blair, Dr Päivi Rasanen, Bishop David and Mr Ian Bingham
    Mayor & Council Chair, Philip Campbell, Dean Blair, Dr Päivi Rasanen, Bishop David and Mr Ian Bingham
  • Piped out of Saul Church
    Piped out of Saul Church
  • Laurence Bellew leads the prayer pilgrimage
    Laurence Bellew leads the prayer pilgrimage
  • Praying for our schools
    Praying for our schools
  • Praying in small groups
    Praying in small groups
  • Final prayer stop in the town
    Final prayer stop in the town
  • Time for individual prayer
    Time for individual prayer
  • The pilgrimage is piped up the Mall
    The pilgrimage is piped up the Mall
  • Approaching Down Cathedral
    Approaching Down Cathedral
  • Our destination, Down Cathedral
    Our destination, Down Cathedral
  • Local civic leaders
    Local civic leaders
  • Harpist, Maria Boyle
    Harpist, Maria Boyle
  • Down Cathedral is full for St Patrick's Day
    Down Cathedral is full for St Patrick's Day
  • Welcome from Dean Henry Blair
    Welcome from Dean Henry Blair
  • The McCartney School of Dance
    The McCartney School of Dance
  • Irish dancing at the beginning of the service
    Irish dancing at the beginning of the service
  • Revd Peter Booth leads us in the collect
    Revd Peter Booth leads us in the collect
  • Revd John Scott reads in Irish
    Revd John Scott reads in Irish
  • Revd Matthew Gaw reads the same passage in English
    Revd Matthew Gaw reads the same passage in English
  • Bishop David prays for Päivi before she speaks
    Bishop David prays for Päivi before she speaks
  • Address by Dr Päivi Rasanen
    Address by Dr Päivi Rasanen
  • Intercessions led by Jonathan Dunlop BL.
    Intercessions led by Jonathan Dunlop BL.
  • Bishop David, Päivi Rasanen and Dean Blair at Patrick's grave
    Bishop David, Päivi Rasanen and Dean Blair at Patrick's grave
  • Archdeacon Mark Harvey, Päivi Rasanen and Bishop David
    Archdeacon Mark Harvey, Päivi Rasanen and Bishop David
  • Bishop, Päivi and the Dean
    Bishop, Päivi and the Dean
  • Picnic in the Pews
    Picnic in the Pews
  • Hello Billy Fyffe!
    Hello Billy Fyffe!
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